So, so much better than his first book. It doesn't feel as gimmicky, the writing itself is better and the story is more interesting (personally). Cleave seems to have done his research, which is nice to see. The only thing I think was detrimental was certain parts seemed to be fishing for sympathy, almost; like, certain parts were so sappy that I couldn't take it seriously. However, there were moments of great emotion where it didn't feel like Cleave was forcing me to feel sad and felt genuine (the scene at the beach near the end with Batman/Charlie and Little Bee, the deportation scene, the very final beach scene where Little Bee gives herself up for Batman/Charlie and Sarah's safety).

Things that made a reoccurrence from the first book:- cheating spouses- four-year-old children- main/secondary characters who are journalists